Salade Niçoise recipes

 Salade Niçoise is a classic French salad that originates from the city of Nice on the French Riviera. It's a refreshing and hearty salad that typically includes a variety of ingredients such as tuna, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and various vegetables. There are many variations of Salade Niçoise, but here's a basic recipe to get you started. Feel free to adjust it to your taste.

Ingredients:

For the salad:

• 2 cans (about 6-7 oz each) of high-quality tuna, drained
• 4 large eggs
• 1 pound small red or new potatoes
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup Niçoise olives (or Kalamata olives)
• 4 cups mixed salad greens (e.g., arugula, Romaine lettuce, or mesclun)
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

For the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Hard-Boiled Eggs:

   • Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover them with cold water.
   • Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 9-12 minutes.
   • Transfer the eggs to an ice water bath to cool. Once cooled, peel and quarter them.

2. Potatoes and Green Beans:

   • Boil the potatoes in salted water until they are tender when pierced with a fork (usually 10-15 minutes).
   • In the last 5 minutes of the potato cooking time, add the green beans to the same pot. Cook until they are crisp-tender.
   • Drain and let them cool.

3. Dressing:

   • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

4. Assemble the Salad:

   • Arrange the salad greens on a serving platter.
   • 
     
     Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces and scatter them over the greens.
   • Arrange the tuna, hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, green beans, Niçoise olives, and red onion over the greens and potatoes.

5. Drizzle the dressing over the salad or serve it on the side.

6. Serve your Salade Niçoise immediately, and enjoy!

Additional optional ingredients that some people like to include in their Salade Niçoise are anchovies, capers, and even artichoke hearts. Feel free to customize the salad to your preferences.

This classic French salad is not only delicious but also a visually appealing dish. It's perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and it's an excellent choice for warm summer days.